The pioneering Swedish electronic band Cosmic Overdose is set to re-release “Final Koko”, which includes the first and last recordings the band made in English before they disbanded in 1981 and reformed as Twice A Man. Originally issued in early 1982 as a highly limited cassette, “Final Koko” has since become one of the rarest and most sought-after items in Sweden’s electro music scene.

Now, this album is being reissued via Progress Productions on November 22nd, remastered by Hans Olsson at Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg. As an added bonus, the re-release includes several remixes that were previously only available in digital format, offering fans a more comprehensive experience of the band’s final works as Cosmic Overdose.

About Cosmic Overdose

Cosmic Overdose was a pioneering Swedish electronic band formed in 1978 by Dan Söderqvist and Karl Gasleben (Ingemar Ljungström). Both musicians came from experimental backgrounds in Sweden’s alternative music scene – Söderqvist from the psychedelic band Älgarnas Trädgård and Gasleben from the ambient group Anna Själv Tredje.

Initially a duo, the band expanded to include additional members before returning to its core trio by the time they recorded their first album, “Dada Koko” (1980). Their sound was a mix of electropunk, post-punk, and experimental electronic music, influenced by acts like Cabaret Voltaire and Joy Division​.

Cosmic Overdose released two studio albums, “Dada Koko” (1980) and “4668” (1981), before transforming into the synthpop group Twice a Man, which became one of the leading names in Swedish electronic music. Despite their short existence under the Cosmic Overdose name, they left a lasting impact on the Swedish electronic and post-punk scenes​.

In 2016, their work was revisited with the release of a 3CD box set, “Koko Total”, which included remastered albums, singles, and unreleased material​.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Swedish dark electronics act Twice A Man have released a video for their new track “Dahlia”, which is featured on the 3CD and 72-page artbook compilation entitled “Songs of Future Memories (1982-2022)” that has been released on January 27.

The Swedes’ long-time artistic preoccupation with environmental issues is also reflected in the clip, which “contrasts the beauty of the natural world with the urban landscapes created by humanity” so the band says.

“The song ‘Dahlia’ is a reflection about our time,” Dan Söderqvist explains on behalf of the trio. “The world is getting darker and uncertain with wars, pandemics, and above all: climate change, environmental destruction, and through that a loss of biodiversity that is all caused by human activity. We experience a conflict between the outer world and an inner imaginary world. We need to feel comfort, and music at its best grants us that inner peace. Two new songs, ‘Lotus’ and ‘Dahlia’, were made to be included in our new compilation album ‘Songs of Future Memories’ and – in some respect – to epitomise the spirit of Twice a Man.”

The video is available below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Swedish dark electronics act Twice A Man have announced a 3-CD and 72-page artbook compilation. The anthology is entitled “Songs of Future Memories (1982-2022)” and is scheduled for release on January 27, 2023 on Dependent.

Singer, guitarist and synth player Dan Söderqvist says: “For the first time since 1987, a new collection of some of our finest works has been compiled. As the title suggests, once again we recall vivid memories of the past. As a band that has rarely looked back, we actually feel some satisfaction on seeing how it all comes together – although the compilation is covering such a long period of our musical career. Almost from the beginning, melancholic soundscapes, surreal lyrics, a romantic approach, and the importance of environmental awareness have provided the guidelines for our musical journey. On the other hand, at the core of Twice a Man’s songwriting lies also the critique of society, the alienation from the consumerist way of life in our Western world, which is also lacking in spiritual values. The perhaps most joyous part of creating ‘Songs of Future Memories’ has been the composing if two new songs, ‘Lotus’ and ‘Dahlia’. These are two flower children that once more emphasise the reflective mood, which is certainly our own. We have high expectations to present the world of Twice A Man to our long-time friends as well as new listeners. This release will hopefully provide many insights into our extended history.”

To coincide with the release a new lyric video clip for their track “Decay” has been made.

About Twice A Man

Twice a Man were formed in Gothenburg, Sweden and is comprised of Dan Söderqvist and Karl Gasleben. The duo met in Gothenburg during the early 1970s when they played in the bands Älgarnas Trädgård and Anna Själv Tredje. Originally they formed a duo in 1978 as Cosmic Overdose.

After changing their name to Twice A Man in 1981, they released their first album, “Music for Girls”, in 1982. The group have consistently used synthesizers and electronic effects to create their theatrical and atmospheric soundscapes, and from 1984 they began to work with samplers.

The band has featured a variety of musicians in their line up, including long-time collaborator Jocke Söderqvist, who rejoined the group in 2013 for club and festival concerts based around some of their earlier works. They have also written music for theatre (including several works for the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm), television, film and radio. They also composed the soundtrack to the PlayStation video game “Kula World”.

In the early 1990s, Twice a Man created a side-project entitled The Butterfly Effect, an experimental electronic project which installed writer Zac O’ Yeah as light designer and Peter Davidson as musician and singer, releasing the album “Trip” in 1991.

They later continued as Twice a Man, but during the decade they decreased their production of studio albums and tours to concentrate on project-based work, often in collaboration with theatre, visual artists or companies.

Recent works by Twice a Man include the album, “Icicles”, released in April 2010, as well as a 50 minute ambient CD, “Costume Area”, which was released to coincide with the opening of a Charles Koroly exhibition at the Dansmuseet museum in Stockholm, for which they provided music and sound design.

Their most recent album, “On the Other Side of the Mirror”, was released in June 2020 in both CD and vinyl editions.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Out via Xenophone International on May 14 is ”Spare parts for the offspring”, the new synthpop album from Gasleben & Electric friends. The driving force behind this project is Swedish electronic music pioneer Karl Gasleben who you might know from Twice a Man. Twice a Man was an electro act based in Gothenburg, Sweden which also had Dan Söderqvist behind the keyboards.

But back to the album ”Spare parts for the offspring”. The music for this new project was indeed a collaborative effort and was completed and recorded with the input from the other Swedish musicians Peter Davidson, Anna Öberg and Karin My. The album holds 8 tracks in total.

To get an idea what the project is about it’s also worth it checking out what the other artists in the project have been working on in the past.

For those who don’t know Karl Gasleben, here’s a small recap. Via the bands Anna Själv Tredje and Cosmic Overdose he ended up in Twice a Man. Besides Twice a Man he is still working with The Ändå and he is also a live musician in Anna Öberg’s live band Härsk. He was also active in the band The Butterfly Effect in 1991 and in Beehive Plains.

Peter Davidson from his side has collaborated with Twice a man in the past and also released a number of ambient instrumental works. Anna Öberg is better known to our readers since she was featured various times already on Side-Line. Starting in her birthplace Helsingborg, she is now active from Gothenburg and has released three solo albums: “Härsknar”, “Vafan har jag gjort!” and “Varelser inuti”. Karin My recently released her full-length debut “Silence Amygdala” which basically is a collection of very dark fairy tales.

Below is a first teaser from the album.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Genre/Influences: Dark-pop.

Background/Info: My first feeling was that this band was the logical new project of Pedro Peñas Robles after the end of Adan & Ilse. The band name clearly appears to be inspired from his previous band he was involved with Usher (Norma Loy).  A★I was set up in 2015 by Pedro (vocals) and Philippe Merry aka Phllox (producer). The band claims to be inspired by dark-pop artists and refers to Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Laiback and even Lassigue Bendthaus.

Content: The sound is a bit different from the body-pop minimalism of Adan & Ilse although there clearly is a link in the global sound approach. There indeed is a link with some aforementioned bands –and especially Depeche Mode, but still with Kraftwerk and even Vangelis. This work mixes good-old standards with a unique sound production, which clearly experiments with new ideas.

“Le Chant Du Cygne Noir” sounds vintage-like, but still ambient-like. The production reveals phenomenal, deep resonating bass lines and haunting atmospheres. Cold sequences and sterile vocals reactivate the good-old 80s spirit while the surprising cover version of “Ashes To Ashes” featuring Dan Söderqvist on guitar (known from Twice A Man) has been remarkably transposed into the sonic universe of A★I. I know that Pedro Peñas Robles is a fan of David Bowie so in the end this cover version is not totally surprising, but the way the song has been reworked and adapted is really worthy of examination.

+ + + : You really have to listen a few time to this album to fully seize the judicious mix of influences which will remind you of Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk on one side and the personal sound input on the other. It’s an efficient balance resulting in an open-minded work, which clearly appears the start of a new adventure for Unknown Pleasures Records owner Pedro Peñas Robles.

– – – : This album clearly is not the most accessible electro-pop release. It even makes me think to a reaction against familiar electro-pop standards, which are constantly repeating themselves. So in the end I would say that the main strength of this work also is the main point and reason for classical electro-pop lovers to turn their back on this band.

Conclusion: A★I clearly sounds like a challenge when it comes to convince electro-pop lovers, but it more sounds like a nice addition and alternative to electro-pop for all of those who are bored with endless emulations of Depeche Mode and co.

Best songs: “We Are One Nation”, “Sin Of Sin”, “Goodbye Lady Red”, “A Secret”, “Dark Stars”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/havoc2027

Label: www.unknown–pleasures–records.com /  www.facebook.com/Unknown–Pleasures–Records-566180440115465

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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